FRANKENSTEIN

opera in three acts

music by Greg Sandow libretto by Thomas M. Disch

Act 1 — The Open Grave

vocal score

music © 1981, 2003 by Greg Sandow libretto © 1981 by Thomas M. Disch

CAST (in Act 1)

Victor Frankenstein, a rash young Swiss scientist High Baritone Elizabeth Lavenza, his fiancée Soprano Henry Clerval, his friend, also in love with Elizabeth Tenor The Creature, created and then abandoned by Victor Frankenstein Bass-baritone Charlotte, Elizabeth’s friend and confidante Mezzo-soprano Victor’s Father Bass Villagers (SATB) Elizabeth’s friends (SSA)

Frankenstein is adapted from Mary Shelley’s 1811 novel, and is far closer to the book than to the famous Boris Karloff movie. I wrote a scenario for the opera, setting forth the overall story, the division into acts and scenes, and the layout of the main musical numbers. The novelist, poet, and literary critic Thomas M. Disch wrote the libretto in an amazing 19th-century style, refining the details and characters of my scenario in ways I never would have thought of. We both wanted to create an opera in the style of the 19th century Italian works we both love, and in certain scenes tried to imagine what might have happened if Bellini or Donizetti had adapted Mary Shelley’s story. That’s clearest in the second scene of Act 1, with its opening chorus followed by the soprano’s aria and cabaletta.

* Act 2, scene 2 was performed at the Lake George Opera Festival in 1979. That scene, along with Act 1 up to the end of Elizabeth’s aria, was performed at the opera workshop at C.W. Post College in 1980. The entire opera was premiered (with piano) in a wonderful workshop production there in 1981. The first act was performed, with orchestra, at the New York City Opera’s VOX showcase of new works, in May, 2003, by these terrific people:

Victor Daniel Mobbs Elizabeth Shannah Timms Henry Paul Mow Creature Jan Opalach Father/Philip Scott Altman Charlotte Marion Capriotti

conductor Brent McMunn

and, of course, the New York City Opera orchestra

THE STORY

Scene 1: A room in a remote Swiss inn. Victor Frankenstein lies sick, tended for many months by his friend Henry. As Victor raves, we learn that he found a way to bring dead flesh to life, and then recoiled in horror from what he created. An offstage horn announces the arrival of the mail coach, and Henry leaves, hoping there will be letters from Victor’s fiancée Elizabeth. Villagers pass by, singing a Lenten hymn. Victor awakens. Henry returns with a letter from Elizabeth, but Victor won’t read it, saying that he knows what it will say. He orders Henry to pack his things; he will return to Elizabeth, hoping she can fill his emptiness with light.

Scene 2: A graveyard. Elizabeth, Charlotte, and a chorus of Elizabeth’s friends stand mourning at an open grave. Buried in it is Justine, a servant girl who has been hanged for the murder of a Victor’s brother William, a very young child. Elizabeth insists Justine was innocent, and persuades her friends and Charlotte to celebrate that innocence by putting flowers in Justine’s grave. Charlotte and the friends leave, but Charlotte rushes back to tell Elizabeth that Victor has returned. When he arrives, he’s weak, and is only able to say that he’s been near to death. In a quintet, Elizabeth pours out her love; Charlotte and Henry worry that her love will doom her; Victor’s father gazes at his son with blind pride. At the end of the quintet, Elizabeth faints. A storm is coming; everyone leaves except Victor, who asks to be left alone. As he sits, haunted by fearful thoughts of the Creature he created, he hears a voice; it’s the Creature, which has been watching him, and now emerges from the darkness. As the storm begins to rage, it tells its story. Victor had fled in terror after bringing it to life; it watched him and Henry through the windows of the inn, and learned to speak by imitating them. Now, filled with rage, it has murdered William, and will do worse unless Victor builds it a female companion. Lit by a ghastly flash of lightning, it pulls Justine’s body from the grave. “We will wait, my ladylove and I,” it shouts, and vanishes into the storm. “If I comply,” Victor cries, “it’s for your sake, Elizabeth!

*

The rest of the opera: Victor finally agrees to marry Elizabeth, as he’d long ago promised. He’s created the female Creature, and brought it to life; as if to celebrate his wedding, he kills it brutally. In revenge, the Creature kills Elizabeth, on her and Victor’s wedding night. Victor and Henry pursue the Creature toward the North Pole. Henry begs Victor to abandon his obsessive quest, and Victor, enraged, kills him. The Creature kills Victor, and dies alone on the polar ice, cursing its creator, all humankind, and finally itself.

CONTENTS

Prelude 5

Scene 1

“You are the cause…See where he lies” (Henry) 6

“I will not look at it” (Victor, Henry) 10

“There was an apple on a tree” (Chorus) 14

“You are awake!” (Henry, Victor) 16

Interlude 19

Scene 2

“Just as, my dear, each day at dawn” (Chorus, Elizabeth) 20

“Dear friends, I thank you” (Elizabeth, Charlotte, Chorus) 24

“Elizabeth, he’s here!…Love cannot change” (Charlotte, Elizabeth) 33

“Love swells through my heart” (Quintet) 37

“Henry, I need your help” (Charlotte, Victor’s Father, Victor) 50

“Oh, that I might cease to think” (Victor, Creature) 53

1

1

FRANKENSTEIN

Grave

PRELUDE

Act 1 -- The Open Grave

f

ff

heavily

p

dolce, espress.

3 3

poco rit. A little more quickly, slightly agitated

p

x = e

Warmly, faster, pressing forward

p

rfz

5

rfz

3

p

legato, sinister

poco

Warmly

SCENE 1

p

rfz

A little more slowly, quasi recitative

H.

[CURTAIN. A room in an inn. Papers scatteredeverywhere; books on a shelf. Victor Frankenstein lies in bed, unconscious. Henry sits near him.]

Henry (quite disturbed)

f

You are

the cause,

E li

- za- beth.

-

For

p

rfz

3

mp

f heavily

sfz

[col canto]

p

6

H. you I have

put by

My stu

emphatically

dy- of

the

f

law.

more quietly, lyrically

For you

I've jour

neyed- To

this moun

tain- waste

To

f

p

H. find your false

be trothed,

- Your Fran

ken- stein.

-

For

p

you,

hushed

through months

Of snow

bound- si

lence- I

have

pp

sfz

p

3 3

H. nursed

him—

Fran ken- stein,

-

Friend of

my child

freely, emphatically

hood,-

,

Ri

val- of my

poco f

[col canto]

f

7

More slowly

rit.

H. youth,

pThe man

you love,

E li

- za- beth,

-

As faith

ful

freely

- ly

- as I've

loved you.

p

[col canto]

attaca

Intense, flowing

H.

See

p

where

he lies,

i nert,

- un con

- scious,- in

fan- tine

- On ly

- a live

- at

p

p

H.

all

Be cause

- I spoon

In to

- his droo

ling- mouth

The slops

Hecan

not- feed

darkly

him self.

-

Look at

the

p

8

H.

limbs

espress.

I dai

ly- bathe,

How like

the rot

ted- flesh

His lear

ned- knives

Would

rfz

H.

once dis sect.

- See

p

how

hushed

his breath

bare ly- stirs

The bed

clothes- His

in

-

p

sempre p

3

H.

con ti- nence

- de files.

-

And what

is most

ob scene

f

-

f

3

3

3

9

rit.

H.

When he

a wakes

- I

must lis

ten

- to Ra

vings- in con- cei

- va- bly- vile,

espress.

f

3

Slowly

H.

ra vings in con

muffled

- cei

- va- bly- vile…

p

p

At about the same tempo, but quite freely

V.

Victor (weakly)

I

p

will

not look

at it.

I will

not touch…

And yet,

see there,

The mus

cles- Con

veryurgently

-

sfp

poco p

poco rfz

poco

10

…holding back…

…a tempo

V.

tract, Re lax,

growing weaker

-

con tract…

ppstrangled

-

No

p

gaining strength,with feeling

more!…

In day

passionately,molto espress.

light- With you,

E li

- za- beth,

- In I

ta- ly- as

rfz

p

rfz

Freely, much slower

A tempo, more slowly than before

V.

I have vowed.

But

in a different tone, `without feeling

stop,

re gard:

-

To these sor

ry- scraps

of death

I shall

im part

- a rhyth

mi- cal

- di

-

sfz

[col canto]

pp

accel. A little faster

rit.

V.

la tion.-

Ob serve

- it well.

See how

the plas

ma's- sucked

In to

- the ar

te- ry,

- and then

ex pelled.

- Quite

sinister, legato

rfz

p

11

A tempo

poco accel. Recitative, a little more quickly

H.

V.

Henry

He seems

half ra

tio- nal

- to day.

-

Some

dead,

very proud,but calmly

you see,

but then

In fused

- with air,

it's red,

a

live!

fstops, horribly afraid

-

p

poco

p

f

meno f

H.

V.

stench yet of

the char

nal- house

In all

this speech,

but his man

ner- Has

be come

- so much

more

Victor (horribly agitated)

f

A

-

12

Hectic, but a bit more slowly

Holding back…

…a tempo

poco rit.

H.

V.

calm.

way fromme!

There is

no pact,

No bond

be tween

- us, none!

You have

no right

to look

at me,

Nor yet

to

f

rfz

espress

sfz

3

More quickly and urgently

V.

live.

fading intounconsciousness

[The coachman's hornis heard offstage.]

p

3 3

3

H. mf

Thecoach

man's-

horn!

At last,

the pass

is clear.

There may

be

f

13

…holding back… …a tempo

H.

let ters- from

E li

- za- beth.

- E li

inspired

- za- beth!

- Seewhat

joyfully

a trea

sure

- I bring.

I've kept

my pledge

to you;

with sudden despair

Nowtake

my

poco

subito p

poco rit.

H.

woun ded- heart.

f

3

e = q

Deliberately, but not too slowly

Chorus

There

was

an

ap

ple

- on

a tree

That grew

inGod's

e

ter

- ni

- ty.

- That

ap

ple

- ea

ten

-

sfz

inaudible

14

Chorus

we

must

die,

Our

sins

are writ

ten

- in

the sky.

No

in

no- cence

- on earth

is

found.

Clo

ser,- clo

ser-

Chorus

comes

the

sound

of

Death

very intense

with

in

- his

crim

son

- coach,

Our

hearts

in vite:

- Ap proach!

very troubled

Ap

p

proach!

- He

makes

the

bri

dal

-

Chorus

gown

a shroud.

He smites

f

the

wise,

the brave,

the

proud.

In to

- his

very intense

cup

our

blood

is

poured;

Our

flesh

is bread

u

-

15

Chorus

pon

his board.

O

Lord

of

Hea

ven,

- hear

our

cry!

Lead us

to life,

and

let

death

die.

Crush

his

bones,

his

H.

V.

Chorus

Henry (surprised)

You

f

are

a

wake!

-

Victor (grimly)

I am

a

name,

his face.

And e

ver

intense

- shall

we

praise

thy

grace.

And

e

ver

- shall

we

praise

thy

grace.

And…

inaudible

sf

16

Slowly Recitative

poco rit.

H.

V.

Henry (simply)

It

p

was

No vem

- ber- when

I came.

To

cantabile

day

-

live.

How long

have I lain

here,

How ma

ny- days?

p

heavily

[col canto]

p dolce

A tempo, a little more slowly than before

More broadly

H. Lent be gins.

- Have you

not heard

the pe

ni- tents?

-

,

Four

darkly, troubled

months

you lay

In thrall

to your

de li

- ri- um.

- Now you

a

-

p

A tempo

H.

V.

rise a gain—

- and look,

A let

ter- from

E

as if urging Victor to be cheerful

li

- za- beth.

-

Victor

There is

no need

to o

pen- it.

Re

-

p

poco

17

slightly holding back…

…a tempo

V.

turn to me,

with a hint of mockery

she writes,

Ful fill

- your vow.

Make me

your bride.

Hen

ry,

-

with determination, verypowerfully, but not loudly

I must

a gain

- Com mand

- your

poco

p

sonorous and powerful

V.

strength. Col lect

- these pa

pers- from

my desk,

And from

the shelf

a bove,

- These books,

See they

are

Hold back a little… …a tempo

V.

packed.

E li

- za- beth!

-

De stroy

- my me

mo- ries,

- And fill

my emp

ff`

ti- ness

-

,

with

ff`

[col canto]

p

18

A tempo, a little faster

accel.

V.

light.

[CURTAIN]

ff`

p

Holding back A tempo

mp

p

espress., passionately

rinf.

rinf.

pocorinf.

ff

3

A little more slowly

Freely

p

very light and transparent

19

rit.

SCENE 2

...gradually slipping into the next tempo...

più f

sfz

[CURTAIN. An unhallowed graveyard at the top of a rugged hill. A few crude graves shadowed by cypresses, and one open grave. Elizabeth, Charlotte, and a chorus of Elizabeth's friends stand near it.]

Lightly and sadly, but with a lilt

Fr. Elizabeth's Friends

Just

p

as,

my

dolce

dear,

each day

pochiss.

at dawn

The bright

stars

di sap- pear,

-

So

p

p

pochiss.

E.

Fr.

Elizabeth (grief-stricken)

mp

So must

we die,

so must

we die.

must

at last

we die,

my love,

poco

In to- the bright

ness-

of

p

the sky

a bove.

-

How

poco

p

poco

20

E.

Fr.

ElizabethHow

mp

harsh

the terms

of death.

swift

p

the rose

doth wilt

and de com- pose.

-

[divided in two parts]

How harsh

the terms

poco

of death.

As li

p

[in three parts]

ving- bo

dies-

poco

p

E.

Fr.

Elizabeth shuddering

Toworms!

How deep

espress., cantabile

thegrave,

How dark

the earth,

poco

yield

their flesh—

How

p

calmly

harsh

of death,

howharsh

the terms.

How

[a2]

deep

espress., cantabile

thegrave,

[a3]

How dark

the earth,

poco

Where

subito p

subito p

espress., cantabile

poco

subito p

21

E.

Fr.

Elizabeth

How

mp

deep,

how dark,

Howdark

the earth.

in

we crave

our

pochiss.

se cond- birth.

O

p

Lord

more strongly

of light,

In struct

- our sight.

Re

pochiss.

p

poco rinf., more strongly

E.

Fr.

espress.

Elizabeth

That

veal

the stars

that

blos

som- al

ways- in

the

mea

dows-

of the night.

Re veal

- the stars

that

p

22

rit.

E.

Fr.

blos som- in

the mea

- dows of

the night.

poco

In the

molto espress.

mea

p

-dows of

the

blos

som- in

the mea

[a2]

dows

[a3]

- of

the night,

espress.

poco

that

blos som,- blos

som- in

the

mea dows.-

poco

[col canto]

p

A tempo

E.

Fr.

night.

Re

p

veal,

awed

- O Lord,

the

rinf.

p

poco

poco

p

23

Recitative (slowly, freely)

E.

Fr.

pDear

Elizabeth

friends,

I

very simply

thank

you

That you share

my grief.

Left to

my

night.

p

poco rit. A tempo, slowly

E.

Fr.

self I would

grieve Word

less- ly,

- and tears

un shed

-

poco espress.

Would turn

my heart

to stone.

Elizabeth's Friends

p

E li

- za

compassionately

- beth,

- Poor

p

24

Recitative (freely)

Slowly

E.

Ch.

Fr.

with sudden despair

Elizabeth

Wil liam

- is dead!

Charlotte

To be

a

with great sadness

lone

- and to

have felt

such woe.

lamb, Sweet child.

espress.

rit.

Slowly -- very sustained andsad, with restrained passion

E. A

p

child

not ten

years old,

Slain

For mere pos ses

-

freely, espress.

sing- of a gol

den-

p

sostenuto

sf

E. chain.

I can not- bear

Re mem

-

desolate

be- ring.

-

And worse,

with intense innerfeeling, freely

to think

That

heavily

sf

p

25

E.

Fr.

Vic tor

distinctly

- must re turn

- To such a hor

ror.- His dear est- bro

ther- Dis mem

- bered- bru

bitterly tal- ly.

-

Friendsp

E li

-

very concerned

za-

sf

p

E.

Fr.

p

And mine

the hand

with great intensity, but quietly

that hung the chain

a bout- his neck

As

passionately

in vi- ta

- tion- to

the

beth, Be calm,

No more.

sf

26

E.

Ch.

deed.

Guilt

Elizabeth

f

less!-

passionately

Dare you ac cuse

- Jus tine?

- She loved

that child

As

Charlotte

Yourhand,

E li

- za

very concerned

- beth,- is guilt

less- as your heart.

p

sf

mf

rit.

e = q

With more animation, a little faster

E. I

with great purity

loved her.

A mur

dur

freely, decisively

- ess—- Jus tine?

-

Be

cause,

p

her- - false

ac cu

- sers- claim,

The

p

rit. A tempo

E. lo

cket

- I let

poor Wil

liam- wear,

Was found

f

passionately

on her

And

she

freely

could not

ex plain.

- And

p

yet

simply, but with great intensity

she

f

[col canto]

p

27

E. swore— and I

be lieve—

- That she

was in

no- cent.

- If there

with great feeling

is guilt,

f

it's mine!

dim.

I

f

dim.

E. hung

that chain

on WiIl

liam's- - neck,

And

E. by

it my

Jus tine

-

Was

p

hanged.

See

p

28

E. where

stifled

her poor

dis ho

- nored- - corpse

Rots

rit.

E.

Ch.

in a grave

un

hal

- lowed.

- A vic

tim- of

the law.

Charlotte

E liz

concerned, but also as if trying to explain an obvious truth

- a- beth,

- Jus

-

mp

A tempo

poco rit.

E.

Ch.

very simply, with conviction

Yes,

When her

con fes

- sor- threa

tened- to

with hold

- The

sa

cra- ment,

- Un der

that tor

ture

- She

con

tine

con

fessed.

-

p

29

rit.

A tempo

E. fessed.

But at

p

the

with convinction, butquietly; cantabile

mo

ment- of

her death,

In sa

molto cantabile; warmly;as if inspired

cred

- con

fi-

-

p

espress.

More broadly

E. dence

she swore

That she

was in

no- cent.

-

f

Ah,

if

with great tenderness

you'd

pressed

her hand

dolce

If

espress.

f

Freely, quasi cadenza

E. you

had

seen

her tears,

You could

not doubt

her

in

p

no- cence.

- You could

not doubt

her.

p

30

A tempo, slowly rit.

E. Ah!

f

You could

not doubt

her in

no- cence.

- Poor

wre

poco f

tched

in tears

- girl,

Jus

p

-

poco f

[col canto]

A tempo

E. tine!

And

now,

in ho

nor- of

her in

no

[From a large bouquet she takes a singleflower and drops it into the open grave.]

- cence,

- I place

this flo

wer

- in

her

p

A little more slowly

E. grave.

As you call

your selves

- my friends,

Place by

this flo

wer

- Flo

freely, with great feeling

wers- of

your

31

Andante mosso, expressively, but very simply

E. own.

[Elizabeth's friends, led by Charlotte, advance one by one to take a flower from the bouquet. Each kneels to place it in Justine's grave, then slowly exits through the graveyard's iron gates.]

p

3 3

3

rfz

p

rfz

p

rfz

32

rit.

Quickly, agitated

E.

Ch.

[As the last member of the chorusdeparts, Charlotte returns excitedly]

Elizabeth (weakly)

Vic

tor!

-

Charlotte

E

li

- za- beth,

- he's here!

With

p

quasi cadenza

p

Ch. Hen

excited

ry,- In

his fa

ther's- coach,

And

oh!

pre

pare

- your self,

- For he

is changed.

E. Vic

Elizabeth (defiantly)

ftor

- changed?

ff

33

With defiant confidence

E. Love

Elizabeth

can

not

- change.

To ge

- ther,

- a part,

- Love lives

in

the

mp

3 3

E. heart

And

can

not

- change.

The con

p

stant- heart

is bea

ting-

mp

p

E. al

ways—

- A wake,

- a sleep,

- In sor

row,

- in plea

sure,

- In

34

E. an ger,

- in pain,

The

heart

lightly

3 3 3

p

E.

Ch.

defiantly

is e

ver

- the same.

Charlotte

How short

his breath,

p

How

p

3 33

3 3

3

E.

Ch.

Elizabeth

How long

I've prayed

for

slow

his steps.

Scarce has

he strength

To lift

his feet.

35

poco rit. A tempo

E. his

re turn,

- But now

I

feel

a

pier

cing

- fear.

The con

stant- heart

is bea

ting-

p

3 3

E. al

ways—

- In sor

row,

- in plea

sure,

- In an

ger,

- in pain,

The

p

E.

heart

lightly

defiantly

is

e

3 3 3

3 3 3 3

- - -

p

p

3

p

3

36

rit.

E.

f

desperately

- - - - - - - ver

the same.

ff

ff

mf f

Moderately

V.

[Victor enters, with his father, supportedby Henry. He takes a few weak steps toward Elizabeth.]

Victor (weakly)

E li

- za

freely, somewhat halting

- beth,

- I have

been near

to death—

E

-

p

rit.

Cantabile; andante

E.

V.

[Victor breaks off, overcome by weakness and emotion.]

Elizabeth (aside)

Love

mp

swells through

my

molto espress.

heart

Like

p

[During this quintet, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Henry, Victor, and Victor's father all stand motionless, lost in their private thoughts.]

the tides

poco rfz

of

the sea

That

li

anguished

za- beth—

-

mf

espress.

più f

rfz p

poco rfz

37

A little faster

E.

V.

spill

on end

less- sands,

For see,

he stands

p

Be

side

- me.

pp

Love swells

well in the background

through

my

Victor (aside)p

Like the dove

to its

p

poco

p

E.

V.

heart.

For see,

he stands

Be side

- me

Love swells

in

my

nest

My

heart

has

come home

To

the

home

it knows

best,

And my

p

poco

p

poco

38

poco accel. …più mosso…

E.

Ch.

V.

heart.

For see,

he stands

Be

Charlotte (aside)

mp

Like a moth

to a flame,

She is drawn

to the

love

lies at rest

Be side

- me.

p

My heart

in the background

has

come home.

mp

39

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

side

me.

Victor's father should predominate here,but the other parts should be less in thebackground than subordinate partshave been previously.

Elizabeth

Love

doom

Of

p

a mis

in the background

pligh

- ted- troth

And

she

can do

naught

But

fly

intensely

to the

Henry (aside)

Love

swells

through

my heart,

Like the tides

Asthey surge

on shore.

Love

Victor

pMy heart

has

come home.

Victor's Father (aside)

mp

Like the pro

di- gal

- son

Of

p

40

E.

Ch.

H.

F.

swells

through my

heart.

light,

to the

light.

swells

through my

heart.

And

I

in the background

can

do

naught

But hear

its roar

In

side

- me.

par

a- bles'

- fame.

My

boy

has come

home

And

my

heart

swells

f

with pride.

With a

f

41

rit.

E.

Ch.

F.

Elizabeth

p

Ah!

freely

Charlotte

She's

mp

drawn

in the background

to

her

doom.

ter

fri- ble

- pride,

f

a

ter

ri- ble,

- ter

ri- ble

- pride,

a

ter

ri- ble

- pride.

f

f

...returning to tempo... A tempo

E.

V.

F.

,

Like

the

p

light

dolce

of

the moon

At the

pp

My

Victor

heart

has

come

pp

My

Father

boy

has

come home.

My

[col canto]

p

42

E.

H.

V.

F.

noon

tide- of night.

When it stands

at

its height,

Love shines

in my

Henry

Love

pp

swells

through

my heart.

I feel

its roar

in side

- me.

home.

heart

swells

with pride.

A ter

ri- ble

-

43

…poco piu mosso… …even more…

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

soul.

Elizabeth (enraptured)

I

Charlotte

mp

Like a moth

to a flame

She is drawn

to her doom

And

Henry

Love

p

swells

through

my heart.

And

I

p

My love

lies

at rest

Be side

- me.

pride.

p

My boy

has

come home,

My

44

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

know

you'll

be

soon

And

for

ev

- er

- be

side

-

me.

mp

Love

swells

she

can

do

naught

But

fly

to the

light,

She's

doomed!

hear

its

roar,

its

roar

In

side

me.

Love

swells

through

my

heart,

mp

swells

Like

the

dove

to its

nest

My

heart's

come

home.

My

love's

mp

here

Be

heart

swells

with pride,

With a ter

ri- ble

- pride.

My

mp

mp

45

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

through

my

heart,

through

my

heart.

f

Like

a

moth

to a

flame

f

She's

drawn

to her

through

my

heart,

It's

roa

ring- in

side

-

f

me.

side

me, be

side

- me.

My

f

heart

has

come

heart

swells,

swells

with pride,

f

f

rfz

46

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

You'll

be

here

for

e

- ver

- Be

side

-

me.

doom,

to her

doom,

to

her

doom.

She's drawn

to

her

I

hear

it

roa

ring- In

side

- me.

Likea moth

to a flame

I am

home,

my

love's

here

Be

side

- me, My love

is here

Be side

- me.

With

a

ter

ri- ble

- pride,

a

ter

ri- ble

- pride.

47

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

mf

Be

side

-

f

me.

You'll

be

here,

for

e

- ver,

- for

-

doom.

She's

drawn

f

to her

doom,

And

she

can do

naught

But

drawn

to my doom,

My

heart

swells

f

with

love

In

side

- me

For

-

mf

My

love

lies

f

at

rest

Be

side

- me

For

-

My boy

has

come home,

My

heart

swells

f

with pride,

With

a

ter

ri- ble

- pride,

With a

f

48

Freely; quasi cadenza

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

e

ver

- Be

side

- me.

fly

to the

light.

She

p

can

do naught;

she can

do naught;

e

ver- in

side

- me. I

p

can

do naught;

I can

do naught

e

ver- be

side

- be. My

p

love's

at rest;

my love's

at rest

ter

ri- ble

- pride. My heart

p

swells with pride;

swells with pride,

[col canto]

49

poco rit. A tempo

E.

Ch.

H.

V.

F.

Elizabeth

He

f

stands

Be side

- me.

[Elizabeth faints. Victor, hardly strongenough to move, stands still.]

she can

do

naught

But

f

fly

to the

light.

but

hear

its

roar

In

fside,

- in

side

- me.

my

love's

at

rest,

f

Be

side,

- be

side

- me.

ter

ri

- ble

- pride;

My

f

heart

swells

with

pride.

f

rfz

p

A little more slowly; flexibly

A little more slowly, freely

Ch. Hen

Charlottemp

ry—-

I need

your help.

Why

scolding

did

[Henry and Victor's father takeElizabeth, and do as Charlottedirects.]

not

you wait

be low?

-

We must take

her to

the

p

poco rfz

50

Ch.

V.

F.

coach.

Gent

ly;

-

gent

ly.-

(as she leaves)

Do not

be

I

pVictor

must be

a lone

poco

- a while.

-

Father (turning back to address his son)

p

Are you

not co

ming- with

us?

poco

rit. Slowly

molto rit.

Ch. long.

A storm

will be

u pon

- us mo

ment

[Charlotte follows the others out.Night begins to fall.]

- ly.

-

espress.

molto

51

A little faster, freely

V.

Oh,

Victor (alone; with great feeling)

that I

might cease

to think—

Or that

mywill

were stron

ger- And I

could say:

I will

not think

on

p

p

p

p

molto rit.

A tempo, a little slower

rit. More slowly

V.

it a gain

- And it

will go

a

f

way.

-

I can

not- see

a crip

ple- in the street,

Or mourn

p

sadly

this in

no-

f

poco

p

mf

poco mf

V.

cent dead girl,

But straight I see

the limbs

My hands and knives

have knit

And fear and pro

phe- cy

- be come- A

pochiss. p

rfz

poco p

52

poco rit.

A tempo

V.

Cr.

sin gle- pulse in ar

te- ry- and

vein.

[A voice is heard from the darkness behind Victor. The speaker is invisible; it is the Creature.]

The Creature (implacable)

And

p

e

ven- in

the air

you breathe,

The

p

pp sinister

rit.

Cr.

scent of that

pro phe

- tic- fear

Will hang,

I'll cling

to you,

And drink

your strength

and make

it

f

f

A tempo, a little faster poco rit. A tempo, freely

Cr.

mine!

Be lieve

- it, Fran

ken- stein,

- as you'd be lieve

- The di

gits- on this hand

that killed your

mf

poco

rfz

mf

poco

mf

poco mf

53

rit.

A tempo

rit.A tempo, much more slowly

Cr.

bro ther- and pur

f

loined

- the chain

By which this in

no- cent- was hung

Are five.

And

pp

what

very dark these

f

mf

pp

A tempo, faster

Cr.

five Have done

they'll do

a gain.

-

louder

No crime

with marked rhythm,majestically

so gross

but it

shall

molto

be

the

pp

dug

with anger At which

these

mf

molto

pp

rit. accel. …al… …tempo

V.

Cr.

Victor (terrified)

I

car rion- lips

shall suck

re venge—

- Un

ff

til

-

very big

the sha

dow- rules

the man,

Un til- I've

molto ff

54

rit. molto rit. A little faster rit.

V.

Cr.

will not think on it

a gain- And it

will go a

[Throughout the preceding, the Creature has comecloser; now it stands directly before Victor.]

way!

ff

-

drained your soul

And made it mine!

ff

I

p

am

very dark

be side

- you now.

molto

ff

subito p

More slowly than before; freely; always holding back the tempo rit. …a tempo… rit. …a tempo…

Cr.

And

pwith great sadness

when

you crept

in to- the cave

Of your de li

- ri- um

-

I al

ways- was near by.

-

Through the

pp

[col canto]

pp haltingly

espress.

…halting, painfully… …a tempo

poco rit. A tempo, a little faster…

Cr.

win

espress.

dow- of the inn

I saw you be

ing- fed And knew

from that The use

of bread.

And when

your friend

Ad dressed long

pp

55

… a little more slowly…

…getting faster……at a steadier tempo, poco allegro

Cr.

mo no- logues

- Toyour un hee

- ding- ears

I lis

tened- close andaped

The mo tions

despite the steadier tempo,the singer must phrase flexibly, with the words.

- of

his mouthTo sa

tis- fy- the

poco

mp

very intense

Cr.

hun ger- of my lips

For speech. Eat,

intense

he would

in sist,- And you

would eat.

…push the tempo…

…a tempo…

Cr.

But to be a ware

- of him, That you

would not, and so

He thought

him self- a lone

- And spoke

in per fect-

p warmly, intense

56

…rit.…

…rit.……A tempo, but more slowly

e = q

…poco rit.…

Cr.

con fi- dence—

-

f

To me!

Some how

- I

p

un

der

with great feeling

- stood- His talk

of

love,

Of

molto espress.

loy

al- ty,

- of

poco

poco

f

p

…a tempo… …push forward… …rit.

Cr.

sa

ppainfully

cri- fice—

-

And I'd go out

on to

- the fro

poco

zen- lake

And howl

his words:

"You are the cause,

f

E

-

p

poco

f

q = e

Freely; slowly

Cr.

li za- beth!"

-

From your ra

phrase with the words

vings,- Fran

[Distant thunder.]

ken- stein,- I learned

a dar ker-

mp

57

poco rit. A tempo

poco rit.

Cr.

lore:

That all

hearts are di vi

- ded- so, Mere pumps

that cause the blood

to flow.

,

A tempopocorit.… …a tempo…

…push forward…

V.

Victorp

Cra

ven- it was

In me to flee

As your flesh

con

-

p

intense

poco

…poco rit.… …a tempo…

…push forward… …a tempo…

…rit.…molto

x = e

V.

vulsed with life.

Long

[Thunder.]

had I gazed

on death's a byss.

- Why then should life

A wa- ken- hor

ror?- A

58

More slowly; flowing,but rather freely

V.

clim

ber,- at the peak

he's strained

To reach

can think of no

thing-

But the

p

V.

vast

ness-

o pened- to

his view.

So was it as

I moved

from height

to height

And

pocorfz

rit. A tempo

V.

held, with in- these hands,

The key

of life.

En rap

as if inspired

- tured- so,

how could

I

espress.

think

The gift of

poco

p

espress.

59

molto rit.A tempo, more slowly rit.

e = q

V.

Cr.

life could be be stowed

- Ex cept- to bless.

Un til

guiltily, in a soft voice

- I saw

Your gaze,

un til- I heard

Your—

Creature (angrily)

f

You

subito p

A tempo, more quickly

V.

Cr.

Victor (weakly)

All I

can do

To spare

you fur

ther- pain

I

fled!

p intense

77

60

poco rit. A tempo

V.

Cr.

shall.

Creature

All

you can

you shall

in deed!

-

This guil

ty- hand,

which I

could crush

Like

f

7

7

7

rit.

A tempo; more slowly

V.

Cr.

Victor (terrified)

f

What do you

ask?

bun

darkly

dled- sticks,

shall once

a gain

- take up

Its knife!

Kee

ner

- than hun

ger-

End less-

poco

mf

intense

pocorinf.

poco

61

hold back… A tempo

V.

Cr.

Victor (beginnning to guess the Creature's meaning)

p

De si

- re!-

As the cir

cling- of

my blood.

I

[looking at Victor, as if to acknowledge that Victor is right]

can

not- sleep,

Un til

- I'm gi

ven-

poco

V.

Cr.

helplessly

De si

-

[Thunder.]

re!

-

is kee

nest- When

it can not- be

ap peased.

-

Re

-

All I need.

f

mf

pochiss.

poco rinf.

mp

62

rit.

q (of the ritard) = h

Faster

V.

Cr.

sign

[Loud thunder.]

your self.

-

Creature (furious)

f

You

lie!

For I,

I

f

7

Cr.

I

Am my self

- the proof

That

ff

7 7

Cr.

what I ask

Is yours

to give.

passionately

Cre

f

ate—

-

less thanbefore

poco calando

7 7

63

molto rit.

Much more slowly

Cr.

mp

Cre

espress.

ate—

-

as

p

you

cre a

- ted- me

My fe

molto

male- coun

tutta forza

ter- part.

-

molto espress.

ff

Faster hold back… A tempo rit.

a little faster A tempo

q = h

V.

Cr.

Victor (terrified)f

Ne ever!-

By all

that's hu man,- ne

ver!-

Weak

Creature (scornfully)

ling!

parlando

-

Phi lo

- so- pher!-

You

poco

f meno f

ff

f

64

Faster, turbulent

Cr.

will

[drawing itself up to its full height]

cre ate

-

a wo

[Thunder. Lightning. The stormis at its height.]

man- limbed

With

f

f

Cr.

limbs

[indicating its own body]

like these.

Her face

de formed.

-

For

f

f

Cr.

I've

a right

to live

and lust,

And breed

like you.

f

f

65

rit.

Cr.

De

ny

menacing, with thegreatest possible intensity

- me,

molto

and

I'll

work

darkly, intense

at

your

de

-

mf

mf

molto

A tempo, slower rit.

Cr.

stru

ction

-

Till I de

so- late

- your heart.

ff

brutally

Freely, quasi cadenza

Cr.

We

will wait,

My la

dy- love

- and I,

Where at

my birth,

I was left

to die.

ff

tutta forza

[col canto]

66

Faster molto rit.

A tempo

V.

Victor (desperately)

If I

com ply,

-

It's for

your sake,

E li

- za- beth!

-

ff

poco

ff

rit.

poco

molto

ff

67